Another Jailed Russian Oligarch Says He Crossed Putin

Alexander Lebedev, along with Mikhail Gorbachev, finances independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which has been known to present critical coverage of Russian President Valdimir Putin's administration.
REUTERS

Russian billionaire and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev has been charged with "hooliganism" a year after he assaulted a fellow guest on a television show, which he claimed was retribution from the Russian government for his political affiliations.

Lebedev claimed he was being targeted by Russian President Valdimir Putin for funding the political opposition, which he denied, adding him, erroneously or otherwise, to a growing list of dissident oligarchs the Russian government is trying to silence.

Lebedev, along with former Soviet Union Chairman and vocal Putin critic Mikhail Gorbachev, finances independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, known for its critical approach to Russian politics in contrast to the pro-Putin bias of state-controlled media outlets.